Traction lines for ski-runners and other passengers



July 20, 1937. E. CONSTAM 2,087,232

TRACTION LINES FOR SKI RUNNERS AND OTHER PASSENGERS Filed Feb. 21. 1935e Sheets-Sheet 1 E. CONSTAM July 20, 1937.

TRACTION LINES FOR SKI RUNNERS AND OTHER PASSENGERS mm Feb. 21. 1935 6Sheets-Sheet 2 July 20, 1937. a CONSTAM 2,087,232

TRACTION LINES FOR SKI RUNNERS AND OTHER PASSENGERS Fi led Feb. 21, 19356 Sheets-Sheet 3 E. CONSTAM July 20, 1937.

TRACTION LINES FOR SKI RUNNERS AND OTHER PASSENGERS Filed Feb( 21, 19556 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 20, 1937. E. coNsTAM 2,087,232

TRACTION LINES FOR SKI RUNNERS AND OTHER PASSENGERS Filed Feb. 21, 19556 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inverzfan 624.16%

E. CONSTAM July 20, 1937.

TRACTION LINES FOR SKI RUNNERS AND OTHER PASSENGERS Filed Feb. 21. 19356 Sheets-Sheet 6 n n .it I I I I Patented July 20, 1931 PATENT OFFlCETRACTION LINES FOR SKI-RUNNERS AND OTHER PASSENGERS Ernst Constain,Zollikon, Zurich, Switzerland Application February 21, 1935, Serial No.7,657 In Switzerland August 17, 1934 9 Claims. (Cl. 104-173) Thisinvention relates to traction lines for skirunners and other passengers.

Such plants equipped with handles or girdles for the uphill-haulage ofski runners and pedestrians are already known. Handles, however, re-

quire the use of both hands of the ski runner and tire him out unduly,particularly when ascending long and steep slopes. Girdles cause pain tothe ski runner in the loins, bring his clothes out of order and are moreor less dangerous. Handles and girdles both have the disadvantage thatthe pull exertedthereby is applied to the ski runner above the center ofgravity of his body. Thus, it is strenuous for the ski runner tomaintain his body in equilibrium.

According to this invention the traction line is equipped with conveyormembers adapted for pushing the passengers from behind at the center ofI gravity of the body. This is the clew of the problem as the successfulconstruction and operation of a plant constructed by myself afternumerous tedious tests have proved.

In the accompanying drawings three embodiments of the traction lineaccording to the invention, together with modified detail arrange- Iments thereof and details of parts are shown, partly in a schematicalmanner, by way of example only, in which I Fig. 1 shows an elevationalview of a first em- -bodiment of the traction line according to theinvention; I

Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of a detail;

Fig. 3 shows a section on the line IIIIII in Fig. 2;

5 Fig. 4 is an elevational view on a larger scale than Fig. 1 of avariant detail arrangement of the first embodiment; I

Fig. 5 shows a plan view of Fig. 4; 40 Fig. 6 is an organization drawingof the traction line;

Fig. '7 shows a view of a modified detail arrangement of thefirst'embodiment on a larger scale; 1 a r Fig. 8 shows asectional sideelevation of Fig. 7;

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a further detail in a sectional elevation anda corresponding plan view;

Fig. 11 shows a further detail arrangement of 50 the first embodiment ofthe invention.

Figs. 12 and 13' show in a front and a side elevation respectively astill further detail of the first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 14 represents a typical detail View;

5 Figs. 15 and'15a show in an elevation and a side view respectively adetail arrangement of the'second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 16 shows an organization view of a modification of the secondembodiment;

Fig. 17 is an elevational view on a larger scale than Fig. 16 of aportion of the traction line; I Fig. 18 is, a. view of a detail;

Fig. 18a is a variant construction pf the second embodiment;

Fig. 19 is an organization view of a third embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 20 is a view similar to Fig. 19; Fig. 21 shows a view of a furthervariant arrangement of the third embodiment;

Fig. 22 is a view similar to Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is an elevational view of a detail of the embodiments;

Fig. 29 is a section on the line XXIX-XXIX in Fig. 28;

Figs. 30 to 32 are views of further details of the second and thirdembodiments, Fig. 31 being a section on the line XXXI-XXXI in Fig. 30;

Figs. 33 and 34 show a vertical section and a front elevationrespectively of a lifting device for the second and third embodiments;

Fig. 35 is a sectional elevation of a modified lifting device;

Fig. 36 is a sectional elevation of a further modification of thelifting'device;

Fig. 37 shows a modified detail arrangement of Fig. 21;

Fig. 38 shows a modified detail arrangement of Fig. 22, and

Fig. 39 shows another detail arrangement of the third embodiment of theinvention.

In the embodiment shown in the Figs. 1 to 3 the circulating tractionrope 40 is actuated in a known manner by one of two driving disks orrope sheaves 4|. The guide groove for the ropein the rim of therespective disk is conveniently lagged with leather, as shown at 41 inFig. 2. Sockets 42 are clamped to the rope also in a known manner.Bipartite pivotal shackles 43 are pushed on these sockets and arescrewed together. Each pair of shackles has a pivot 44 to which theshank 45 of the conveyor member 46 is linked.

The conveyor members 46 together with their shanks 45 thus can swingrelative to the traction rope 40 in the direction of the haulage, butshould not touch the snow on the ground when hanging down unused orvacant.- When starting out for'travelling on the traction line, theskirunner sits on the outer edge of the ramp 48 set on the snow. Thenext oncoming conveyor member sliding over the ramp then seizes theskirunner from behind, as shown in Fig. 1.

Guide rollers for the traction rope 46 of the kind hereinafter describedare unsuitable for use in the construction shown by Figs. 1 to 3 withinreach of the passengers travelling on the traction line, as a ski-runnermight easily hurt a hand in between the traction rope and a roller. If awirecable is used as traction rope, danger also exists that theski-runners may be hurt by the usually sharp ends of broken wires or besoiled by lubricating grease adhering to the wire cable.

In the variant detail arrangement of the traction line shown in theFigs. 4 to 6, the shanks 45 of the conveyor members 46 are provided withprotection shields 41 made, for example, of light sheet metal or of wiremesh. During the haulage the ski-runners hold with the right handhandles 49 provided for this purpose. The rollers 50 guiding thetraction rope 40 are equipped with protection bars 5| for guiding theshanks 45 and the protection shields 41. The axles 52 of the rollers 50are secured to vertical pillars 55 of wooden supports 54 by means ofbolts 53. The vertical posts 55 have several bolt holes 56 permittingthe raising or lowering of the rollers 50 and thereby the rope 40 inaccordance with the variable depth of the snow deposits, as indicated bychain dotted lines in Fig. 6.

The driving station 60 is provided with an electric motor 6| which bymeans of a driving belt drives the pulley 62 and the horizontal shaft63; the shaft 63 drives the vertical shaft 65 by the toothed'miter gear64. The pinion 66 on the vertical shaft 65 drives a large spur wheel '61which is secured to the rope sheave 4|. It is desirable to drive therope sheave 4| and the traction rope 40 at variable speed. This isparticularly desirable when the traction line according to the inventionis operated also for the convenience of pedestrians during the time ofthe year which is free of snow. The pedestrians apply the conveyormembers tothe backside in exactly the same manner as the ski-runners andare thus efiectively assisted in walking, particularly in ascending.

If a direct current motor is employed the speed of the same can beeasily regulated. For regulating three-phase motors, however, it isnecessary to equip them with adjustable brushes or to provideinterchangeable driving pulleys of different diameters or else othermechanical or hydraulic speed regulating means.

The rope tensioning station 69 is provided with a loose rope sheave 10the carriage of which is pulled towards the right by action of atensioning rope l2 and a counterweight 13. A tackle 14 serves forlifting the counterweight 13 when the rollers 50 of the traction ropeare readjusted, as previously referred to.

Alternativelythe traction rope driving arrangement may be housed in theupper station and the rope tensioning device in the lower station.Furthermore, horizontal traction lines having both end'stations situatedat the same level may be designed.

In the modified detail arrangement of the traction line shown in theFigs. '7 to 10 the protection shield 4| is connected with the tractionrope by means of a shackle 43 with pivot 44. A sleeve 150m the otherhand surrounds the traction rope In the Figs. 9 and 10 the shape of therope guide groove of the sheaves 4| is shown as well as the manner inwhich the conveyor members pass round the rope sheaves, the upperportions 18 of the protection shields 41' resting from above against therim of the sheaves, when the weights 7'! are urged outwards by action ofcentrifugal force.

Rollers for keeping down the traction rope, as shown in Fig. 6 under thereference numeral 68 are improper for use in the construction depictedin the Figs. 7 to 10 on account of the presence of the upper portions 18and of the pivots 44 and 16. Therefore the rope sheave 4| on thedownhill side must be inclined in alignment with the inclination of thetraction rope on the open track, the same as shown in Fig. 1.

In a further detail arrangement of the first embodiment of theinvention, shown in Fig. 11, the shanks 45 of the conveyor members 46are longer than in the previously described constructions. Around therope sheaves 4| suitable guide rails 8|! are provided preventing theconveyor members 45, 46 from swinging too far out.

It is desirable that the succeeding conveyor members do not interferewith ski-runners that may have come to fall on the road way of thetraction line. The detail construction shown in the Figs. 12 and 13tries to prevent this as much as possible. The shanks 45 of the conveyormembers therefore slide in sockets-8| fastened to the pivots 44 and theshackles 43 on the traction rope 40. Coil springs 82 are provided forraising the conveyor members when vacant.

It is furthermore desirable, that the succeeding passengers can ridepast one having come to fall on the roadway of the traction-line andthat passengers can not start on the ride on the open track but atcertain spots where guards control the tickets. It is indispensable thata considerable bearing pressure be maintained between the traction ropeand the rollers 50 in order to prevent the traction rope beingdisengaged from the rollers by inadvertence of the passengers. Thishowever can be eliminated with the aid of suitable counter rollers 83cooperating with the rollers 50 (Fig. 14) provided that the socketedshackles 43, are of the type shown in the Figs. 2 to 6 and 11 to 13, i.e. are fit for being used with rollers below and above the tractionrope. In the detail arrangement of the second embodiment of theinvention shown in the Figs. 15 and 15a a hanger with a weighting block81 is correlated to each conveyor member 45 and 46. The weighting blockis linked eccentrically to the lower end of the hanger B5 in such a waythat the block shifts downwardly until the stop indicated at 84 bearsagainst the extreme lower end of the hanger 85. The conveyor member 46,i. e. the shank 45 thereof is secured to the weighting block 81. Thus,by grasping the conveyor member 46 the ski-runner can pull this memberdown and apply it to the back ofhis body as shown in Fig. in dottedlines.

In the variant detail arrangement shown by Figs. 16 to 18, two hangers85 and 88 are correlated to each conveyor member 45, 48; the hangers maybe connected to the traction rope 48 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Thefront hangers 85 are provided with weighting blocks 81 at their lowerends. The rear hangers 86 carry at their lower ends automatic liftingdevices 88 as will be hereinafter described. These lifting devices areadapted to pull in automatically lifting ropes 89, in order to lift theshanks 45 of the conveyor members 46 up to the hangers 86 when theskirunners release the conveyor members 48. Only at the starting place98 the conveyor members 46 are lowered so far down above the surfaceofthe snow that the ski-runners after having paid the fare can grasp andapply them to the rear side of the body. The inner ends of the shanks 45are fastened to the weighting blocks 81 by means of three link Joints asshown in Fig. 18, enabling the conveyor members to ride around the ropesheaves 4|, as shown in Fig. 16. Guide walls 9!, arranged near the ropesheaves 4|, limit the conveyor members from undue swinging movements byeffect of centrifugal force.

Fig. 18a shows an arrangement similar to that of Figs. 16, 17 and 18.The front and the rear hangers 85 and 86 carry weighting blocks 81 attheir lower ends.- The weighting blocks of the hangers 86 have hooks 96on which the conveyor members 45, 88 are suspended when vacant.

In the detail arrangement of the traction line shown in Fig. 19, theconveyor members 48 are connected to the front hangers 8'5 by means oftheir shanks 45 and drag ropes 95. The latter allow the sin-runners toride laterally past an obstacle that may obstruct the roadway of thetraction line. The rear hangers 86 are provided with the hooks 96 forsuspending the vacant conveyor members. Drums 9?, made for example ofthin sheet metal, rotate together with the grooved rope sheaves 4| andguide the conveyor members, drag ropes and hangers around the ropesheaves. Fixed guide rails 88 prevent the conveying elements fromswinging too far out by action of centrifugal force and thereupon toswing inwards unduly after having passed the respective drum. If theexterior guide rails 88 are so close to the drums that the hangers cannot swing out at all the subsequent inward swinging is also prevented.In cases where for some reason or other the diameter of the drums 91 aremade smaller than that of the rope sheaves 4|, elastic tension members89 combined with the drag ropes 95 maintain the drag-ropes taut alsowhen the latter pass around the drums thus preventing the drag ropesfrom undue sagging or even sliding down along the drums whereby the dragropes'might entangle. Wire coil springs or rubber strings may serve astension members 98.

In the detail arrangement of the traction line shown in the Fig. 20,there are twice as many conveyor members as in the arrangement of Fig.19. Therefore at the same speed of the traction rope the conveyingcapacity of the traction line per unit of time is doubled. The rearhangers serve at the same time as front hangers for the next followingconveyor members. In the event of a ski-runner having come to fall andreleasing the conveyor member'which he had occupied, this member isdragged along over the surface of the snow and might incrust with iceand entangle with objects or with persons that may happen to be on theroadway.

In the construction shown in Fig. 21, the rear hangers 86 are providedwith automatic lifting devices 88 which by means of the lifting ropes 89lift the shanks 45 of the conveyor members 48 up to the rear hangerswhenever the conveyor members are released by the passengers.

The modified detail arrangement of the traction line shown in Fig. 22 isderived from that shown in Fig. 21 by doubling the number of conveyingmember's. At the same speed of the traction rope the conveying capacityper unit of time is twice that of the arrangement of Fig. 21. Here againthe rear hangers serve as front hangers for the next following conveyingmembers. In the arrangement shown in the Figs. 21 and 22 it is advisableto lower the traction rope 48 at the starting place only, so that onlythere the passengers can reach and grasp the conveyor members and canstart travelling on'the traction line. travel so high above the snowthat unauthorized ski-runners not having paid the fare can not reach theconveyor members, and that ski-runners can cross the roadway withoutbeing hit by vacant conveyor members. Another advantage of theconstructions shown by Figs. 21 and 22 is that the headway between theroadway and the traction rope 48 can vary within the limits afforded bythe length of the fully extended and fully pulled in lifting rope 89.The elastic tension members 98 inserted in the drag ropes are weakerthan the lifting devices 88 so that the latter can pull in the liftingropes 89 completely.

Relieving ropes 99 are therefore necessary in parallel with the tensionmembers as shown in Fig. 23 to protect the latter against being undulystrained. Individual single steel wires, weighing very little andsagging very little may serve as drag ropes 95;

Fig. 24 schematically illustrates a cross-profile On the open tracktheconveyor members.

of the constructions shown by Figs. 21 and 22.

The roadway I88 instead of being situated directly underneath thetraction rope 48 is disposed sidewardly thereof so that the ski-runnerscan not be hit by, for example, detachable parts of the overheadstructure of the line working loose. A snow parapet IM or else anappropriate fence is provided bordering the roadway on one side. In someplaces the snow parapet or the fence may be interrupted in order toallow ski-runners to cross the roadway.

Fig. 25 represents a schematical situation plan of a traction line asshown in the Figs. 1 to 24. The arrows shown in the situation planindicate the direction of circulation of the traction rope 48 and thedirection in which the ski-runners are hauled on the roadway I 88indicated by chain dotted lines. The traction rope arrangement and theroadway instead of being separated by a parapet or fence are separatedin this instance by a bank I83 (Figs. 25 and 26) The operative side ofthe traction line describes a curve in order to avoid the depression I84of the ground. Four of the total of eight rope-supports on the operativeside of the traction line are crowded together at the curve and areprovided with obliquely mounted curve guide rollers 58 as evident fromFig. 26. The inoperative return track for the vacant conveyor members isstraight when seen from above and provided with a single rope support,as shown in Fig. 27, which in accordance with the larger spans of theinoperative side of roadway I is sidewardly deflected, asshown in theFigs. 25 and 28, so thatthe drag ropes 95 during the haulage, when seenin plan. are substantially tangent to the running off sides of the curveguide rollers 50 and of the sheaves 4| of the .traction rope. Thesetangents are indicated by dotted lines in the Figs. 25 and 28. Thisprevents the hangers 85 and 86 and the drag ropes 95 from being pressedagainst the rollers 58 of Fig. 26 and the drums of Fig. 29 duringoperation.

At the end of the roadway of the traction line an automatic limit switchin the form of a barrier I is placed across the roadway. Should askirunner touch the barrier the electric driving motor of the tractionline is automatically stopped in a known manner.

The Figs. 30 to 32 depict details of the embodiment of the invention asillustrated in the Figs. 16, 17, 21 to 29, inclusive. Fig. 31 shows ahorizontal section through the hanger 85 (86) illustrated in Fig. 30 onthe line XXIL-XXX of the latter. In the front and at the back of theU-shaped hanger a freely rotatable roller I06 is arranged forcooperation with guide rails 80 preventing undue transverse swingingmovements of the hanger. The hanger is linked to the pivot 44 which isconnected to the traction rope .40

by means of a bipartite clamping connection, as shown, and carries onthe exterior side a segmental plate I0'I with two stops I08 limiting therange of swinging movement of the hanger in the direction of thehaulage, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 32. The roller 50 supportsthe traction rope 40 from below. The roller 68 guides the traction rope40 from above. The rope sheave 4| is of the type used at the ends of thetraction line and forcurvesl 81 is a weighting block for a front hanger85 and 88 is an automatic lifting device.

. The Figs. 33 and 34 show details of a lifting device. The drum III onwhich the lifting rope 89 is wound on and oif is rotatably mounted in acasing 0, the rope passing through an opening H2 provided in the shellof the casing H0 to the upper end of the shank 45 of the conveyor member46. The powerful spiral spring H3 is secured on one hand to the casingH0 and on the other hand to the laterally extended shaft of the drumIII. The spring tends to rotate the drum in the direction of the arrowindicated in Fig. 34. When a ski-runner grasps a conveyor member 46 andpulls it down, the lifting rope 89 unwinds from the rope drum III andthe spring is additionally tensioned. On the skirunner's releasing theconveyor members -46, the lifting rope 89 is again wound on to the ropedrum III by action of the spiral spring II3 until the shank 45 of theconveyor. member 46 bears against the casing H0 at the opening II2. Inorder to avoid the released conveyor member 46 being lifted tooabruptly, speed checking means are provided on the rope drum II I in theform of two centrifugally operating braking blocks I I5 which areadapted to damp the angular velocity of the rope drums by frictionalengagement at I I6 with the shell of the casing ,IIO. Alternativelyinstead of by means of centrifugally operating braking blocks thevelocity of the rope drum I I I may also be checked with the aid of anescapement mechanism such as used in.

watch-making. The shank 45 of the conveyor member 46 has a fiat arm IIllinked to it. At the outer end of the arm III the tension member 98 andthe correlated relieving rope 99 of the drag wire 95 are attached, theconveyor member 46 thus being prevented from distorting and consequentlymaintains its transverse disposition to the direction of haulage, evenwhen vacant.

In Fig. 35 a further modification of the auto matic lifting device isillustrated. The hanger of thisarrangement substantially comprises acylinder II8 in which a piston II9 moves downwards when the releasedconveyor member 46 raises. The cylinder contains in its upper portion astationary pulley block I20, the piston in turn carrying the movablelower pulley block I2l of the lifting rope 89. The piston is caused tomove downwards by action of its own weight and by action of the coilspring I22. The lifting movement of the conveyor member 46 is damped bythe effect of the air cushion formed on the underside of the piston. Aweighting block I23 adjusts the hanger to the desired position shown. Atube I26 through which the lifting rope is led downwards from the upperpulley block ends in a funnel-shaped mouth piece I25.

The shank 45 of the conveyor member 46 terminates in a conical head I26of rubber or some other shock cushioning material. The lifting rope 89pulls the head I26 into the mouth piece I25 in such a manner that theconveyor member 46 can no longer swing relative to the hanger, but isheld to the latter. This improves the functioning of the traction lineand facilitates the grasping of the oncoming conveyor members by theski-runners when they start on the haulage.

Fig. 36 shows a further modification of the automatic lifting device. Ina cylinder II 8 a weight I27 is housed which is urged downwards byaction of gravity and of the spring I22. The conveyor member 46 israised by the lifting rope 89 as shown. The shank 45 of the conveyormember has a dish-shaped upper end. The dished end is lagged with ashock damping material, for example, felt or rubber and is pulled in itsend position against the flat underside of the weight I21 by the centraltraction of the lifting rope 89. Thus the conveyor member 46 isprevented from swinging relative to the hanger. Jerking of the conveyormember 46 and entangling of the same with the traction rope, thesupporting rollers of the traction rope or the like is thus effectivelyavoided.

In Fig. 37, 85 represents the front hanger and 86 the rear hanger ofFig. 21. The automatic lifting device 83 comprises a rope winch similarto that described in connection with the Figs. 33 and 34. This winch,however, has no spiral spring, but has a double rope drum I II and afriction brake acting by effect of centrifugal force. On one of thedrums the lifting rope 89 is wound on and off and on the other drum arope I28 is at the same time wound off and on. The rope I28 is securedto the front hanger 85 by means of powerful tensioning members I30pulling the rope I28 forwards whereby the lifting rope 89 is wound onand the conveyor member 46 is lifted. Rubber strings or coil springs ofsteel wire may be used as tensioning members I30.

The detail arrangement shown in Fig. 38 is oftthe same type as therespective arrangements of Fig. 22. Each hanger is associated with asioning member I30 contracts and the rope I28 is 2,037,232 conveyormember '46. "The automatictlifting devices 88 correspond to. thosedescribed in connec-v tion with Fig-37, but here the ropes I28 and thetensioning members I30 act on the respective";v

lifting device from-therear. Then the double rope drum rotatesclockwise, the respective tenwound off, whereas the lifting rope 89 iswound In the detail arrangement illustrated in Fig.

39 there is only one rope for dragging and for lifting the conveyormember 46. An automatic spring operated winch 88, pulls in the rope, the

' the roller I3'I as shown in dotted lines. .This arrangement has theadvantage that when starting on the haulage the conveyor members .46 atfirst remain stationary in the hands of the skirunners to lag behind thetraction rope until therespective stop 36 hits the correlated rollerI31. I do not limit myself to the particular size, shape, number orarrangement of parts as shown and described, all of which maybe variedwith-- out going beyond the scope of'my invention as shown, describedand claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a ski tow, a traction rope, means for supporting said ropeelevated above the ground, means for driving said rope, conveyor membersconnected with said traction rope and circulating therewith, and aprojecting portion on each conveyor member extending transversely to thedirection of towing for thrustingly pushing the body of a passenger frombehind while standing on his skis and leaning against said portion, saidprojecting portion freely engaging the passenger in the vicinity ofhis'center of gravity, said projecting portions being free ofobstructions on one side, thus permitting the passenger, to disengagehimself from said member without detaching any fastening elements.

2. In a ski tow, a traction rope, means for supporting said ropeelevated above the ground,

means for driving said rope, conveyor members connected with saidtraction rope, a projecting portion on each conveyor memberextendingtransversely to the direction of towing for pushing the'body of apassenger-from behind while standing on his skis and leaning againstsaid portion, said portion freely engaging the passenger in the vicinityof his center of gravity and being free of obstructions on one side,thus permitting thepassenger to disengage himself from said memberwithout detaching any fastening elements, and protection meansassociated for common movement with said conveyor members for protectingthe passengers against being hurt and soiled by the traction rope andits supporting means.

3. In a ski tow, a traction rope, means for supporting said ropeelevated above the ground, means for circulating the rope, conveyor,mem-' bers connected with said traction rope, a projecting portion oneach conveyor member extending transversely to the direction of towingfor pushing the body of the passenger from behind while standing on hisskis and'leaning' against said portion, said portion freely engagmembersto elevated position when released.

ing .the passenger in the vicinity of his center of gravity and beingfree of obstructions on one side, thus permitting the passenger todisengage himself from said member without detaching any fasteningelements, and adjusting means for regulating the height above ground ofthe traction rope supporting means in accordance with the variable depthof snow deposits on the round.

senger to disengage himself fromsaid member without detaching anyfastening elements, and

yieldingconveyor lifting devices intercal'ated between the conveyormembers and the traction rope permitting lowering the conveyor membersinto towing position and automatically compensatingthe varying elevationof the traction rope alongthe roadway and restoring the conveyor '5. Ina skitow, a traction rope, means for supporting said rope elevated abovethe ground,

, means for circulating said rope, conveyor members articulatelyconnected with said rope and circulating together therewith, aprojecting portion on each conveyor member extending transversely, tothe direction of towing for freely engaging and pushing the body of thepassenger from behind in the vicinity of his center of grav-.

ity while standing on his skis and leaning against said portion, saidportion being free of obstructions on one side, thus permitting thepassenger to disengage himself from said member without detaching anyfastening elements, yielding conveyor lifting devices intercalatedbetween the conveyor members and the traction rope permitting loweringthe conveyor members into towing position and automatically compensatingthe varypushing the .body of the passenger from behind in the vicinityof his center of gravity while standing on his skis and leaning againstsaid portion, said portion being free of obstructions on one side, thuspermitting the passenger to disengage himself' from said member withoutdetaching any-fastening elements, yielding conveyor lifting devicesintercalated between the conveyor members and the traction rope,permitting lowsociated with said lifting devices for preventing thereleased conveyor members from being restored at undue speed, and aroadway for the passengers disposed laterally of said traction rope,said conveyor members when vacant, said lifting devices and said speedchecking means.

7. In a ski tow, a traction rope, means for supporting said ropeelevated above the ground, means for circulating said rope, conveyormembers articulately connected with said rope and circulating togetherwith said traction rope, a projecting portion on each conveyor memberextending transversely to the direction of the towing for freelyengaging and pushing the body of the passenger'from behind in thevicinity of his center of gravity while standing on his skis and leaningagainst said portion, said portion being free of 0bstructions on oneside, thus permitting the passenger to disengage himself from saidmember without detaching any fastening elements, the connections betweenthe conveyor members and rope comprising a front and a rear hangerarranged on the traction rope for each of said conveyor members, eachconveyor member being secured to the respective front hanger for towingaction, and a yielding conveyor liftingdevice intercalated between eachconveyor member and its a respective rear hanger permitting lowering theconveyor member into towing position and automatically compensating thevarying elevation of the traction rope above the snow and for restoringthe conveyor member to raised positionwhen released.

8. In a ski tow, a traction rope, means for supporting said ropeelevated above the ground,

means for circulating said rope, conveyor members articulately connectedwith said rope and circulating together with said traction rope, aprojecting portion on eachconveyor member extending transversely tothedirection of .towing for freely engaging and pushing the body of thepas-' senger'from behind in the vicinity of his center of gravity whilestanding on his skisand leaning against said portion, said'portion beingfree of obstructions on one side, thus permitting the passenger todisengage himself from said member member withthe hanger.

without detaching any fastening elements, the connections between theconveyor member and rope comprising afront and a rear hanger arranged onthe traction rope for each of said conveyor members, a flexible haulmember interconnecting each conveyor member with the respective fronthanger for towing action, and a yielding conveyor lifting deviceintercalate-d between the conveyor member and the respective rear hangerpermitting lowering the conveyor member into towing position andautomatically compensating the varying elevation of the traction ropealong the roadway and for restoring the conveyor member to raisedposition when released.

9. In a ski tow, a traction rope, means for supporting said ropeelevated above the ground, means for circulating said rope, conveyormembers articulately connected with said rope and circulating togethertherewith, a projecting portion on each conveyor member extendingtransversely to the direction of towing for freely engaging and pushingthe body of the passenger from behind in the vicinity of his center ofgravity while standing on his skis and leaning against member, ayielding conveyor lifting device intercalated between the precedingconveyor member and the hanger for permitting lowering said conveyormember into towing position and for automatically compensating thevarying elevation of thetraction rope above the roadway and forrestoring the preceding conveyor member to r raised position whenreleased, and a flexible haul member interconnecting the succeedingconveyor ERNST CONS'IAM.

